My neighbor laughed at me for using a travel rewards card on groceries and now I'm $200 ahead

I was chatting with my neighbor Dave last weekend while we were both out watering plants. He saw me swipe my travel card at the corner store and goes "you're never gonna rack up enough miles on milk and eggs." But here's the thing - I checked my points balance and I've earned $200 in statement credits this year just from everyday spending. That's two nights at a solid hostel in Mexico City or a round trip flight to Chicago. Not everyone flies first class, you know? Has anyone else gotten surprised by how fast those small purchases add up?

2 comments

2 Comments

averymartin23d ago

$200 in statement credits sounds fine until you realize that same spending on a straight cash back card would have put the same amount in your pocket without locking you into their travel portal. Those points only matter if you actually use them, otherwise you're just bragging about a balance that dies when the program changes terms.

finley_price2422d ago

The whole "dies when the program changes terms" part hits home for me. I got burned a few years back when a card I had quietly devalued their points and I lost like 40% of what I'd saved up. After that I switched most of my spending to a simple cash back setup, and honestly I sleep better just watching the money hit my statement every month. I mean, I still keep one travel card for the annual fee credits and lounge access, but I only put spend on it when I know I'll actually use those perks. Otherwise yeah, it's just a number on a screen that can change whenever they feel like it.